PS 3523 - — — — 

.082 

”p y 2 3rs, Anecdotes, and 

sketches of “Ben Hope” 

By James Stanhope Love (“Ben Hope’ ) 


The Shut-In Writer and Author 




Letters, Anecdotes, and 


Sketches of ‘‘Ben Hope” 


BY 


James Stanhope Love 

(“BEN HOPE”} 


The Shut-In Writer and Author 




Nineteen Hundred Twenty 



























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SONG. 

0 Spirit of the Summertime ! 

Bring back the roses to the dells ; 

The swallow from her distant clime, 

The honeybee from drowsy cells. 

Bring back the friendship of the sun ; 

The gilded evenings calm and late, 

When weary children homeward run, 

And peeping stars bid lovers wait. 

Bring back the singing ; and the scent 
Of meadow-lands at dewy prime; 

Oh, bring again my heart’s content, 

Thou spirit of the Summertime ! 

— William Allingham. 

AN ORIGINAL WAY OF COUNTING. 

(Unless otherwise signed, all pieces in this pamphlet 
are the original — and best — compositions of “Ben Hope,” 
the well-known self-educated shut-in student and writer.) 

Back in the days before the Civil war there lived, on a 
plantation in South Carolina, a negro who could not count. 
He did not appear to have much sense, and never talked 
unless it was absolutely necessary; but as he was big, 
strong, and trustworthy, he was generally regarded as a 
“tower of strength” on the farm. He could do an immense 
amount of work in a day, and his master, Mr. Davies, al- 
ways trusted “Ike” to see that the work was well done. 

One morning Mr. Davies called, “Ike, go over yonder to 
the north woods, where the hands are making rails, and 
bring me the number of rails they have made.” Mr. 
Davies had, for the moment, forgotten Ike’s one defici- 
ency; but with a polite, “Yas, suh, all right, Master!” Ike 
was off at once. 

After awhile Ike returned, carrying hundreds — per- 
haps thousands — of pieces of broken twigs and straws 


3 


in his hands and pockets, with the brief statement, 
“Dere’s as many rails as I’se got little sticks here.” 

The faithful negro had broken off a twig for each rail, 
and there were just as many rails as broken twigs. 

THE SNAKE AND THE BIRD. 

Snakes have a way of casting a charm, fatal but ir- 
resistible, over their prey, that is strangely interesting to 
an observer. 

“Walking out a little way from the house, one Sunday 
afternoon, I saw in a small plot of grass near my path, a 
bird fluttering in a circle. It seemed unable to rise, and 
was slowly but surely coming nearer the ground with 
each circle that it made,” my friend, Mr. Caldwell, said. 

“I watched it a moment, then stepped nearer, and there 
in the grass was a huge black snake, its eyes fixed on the 
helpless bird so intently that it failed to notice my ap- 
proach. 

“Picking up a stick, I strode forward and dealt the 
snake a blow which disabled it so that I soon had it killed, 
and no sooner had I hit the snake than the bird flew off 
with a grateful flop.” 

WHAT TWO BOYS DID 

Become Substantial Citizens With Poorest of Poor Starts. 

To the Editor of The State : 

About 50 (when this was written, in 1915) years ago 
two brothers — whose name does not matter — began life 
on a small, well-worn farm, and with no money. Their 
father had been a Confederate soldier who never return- 
ed home. The brothers, scarcely more than boys, with- 
out experience as bread-winners, had therefore to begin 
the work of supporting themselves, their mother, and 
smaller brothers and sisters. 

So they went to the nearest storekeeper, made arrange- 
ments to get supplies on credit for the first year, and 
started back home. In the fall each boy was to pay a 
half of the supply bill, according to agreement between 
themselves and the merchant. 


4 


Before they had reached home one of the boys said, 
suddenly, “This won’t do !” 

The other, startled, asked, “What won’t do? What do 
you mean, Bob?” 

“Buying stuff on time, and I’m not going to get any 
more that way. Well, I’ll never get it paid in the world.” 

“Well, Bob, if that’s the way you feel about it I guess 
I won’t buy any more on time, either.” 

And they didn’t. Managing the home and its affairs 
as on’y a woman can manage, while they did the work, 
the boys’ mother made their first supply of rations hold 
out until some produce was ready for market. From 
then on the rest was easy, and today those two farmers 
are we -1-to-do citizens and have never really felt the 
“pinch of hard times.” 

A country in which every man is a good manager and 
every woman a good “saver” were impossible in this 
world, and of course everybody could not do as the two 
brothers did, but it is safe and reasonable enough to as- 
sume that many more couM follow the course which leads 
to success and independence than do follow it. 

A ROMAN TWILIGHT. 

The purple tints of twilight over Rome ; 

Against the sunset great Saint Peter’s dome, 

And through the gateways peasants wended home. 

Shadows that gather round the Aventine ; 

And just above the dim horizon line 
The star of Hesper, like a light divine. 

A perfume faint as of forgotten sweets, 

As though there came, far borne through lonely streets, 
The breath of vio'ets from the grave of Keats. 

— Clinton Scollard. 

WHEN CHOPPING IS EASY. 

“Uncle” West, the colored man of all work at the farm. 


5 


was chopping wood one warm spring day when a neighbor 
came by. 

The man stopped and spoke : “Hello, there, Uncle ! How 
are you today? You must be feeling pretty good, from 
the way you swing that ax. And you must find chopping 
hard work, a day like this, in such big timber.” 

“Well, it is pretty hard work,” Uncle West answered, 
“until a man gets ‘circumcised To it ; and then it’s easy.” 

THE CHURCH THE CONNECTING LINK BETWEEN 

EARTH AND HEAVEN, 

(I am a Presbyterian ; but this is what I had to say at 
the Children’s Day exercises at Enon Baptist church, May 
17 , 1914 .) 

The world has never been able to get on through Time 
and the Ages without a church of some kind. No race of 
people, I believe, has ever thought that it could exist 
long without a church and without a God — a God of some 
kind. The history of mankind proves these assertions, 
and much more besides. It also proves that there is, and 
always has been, a p’ace for our church here on earth. 
And our church is the connecting link between earth and 
heaven. 

It is not essential that we shaH give even a brief out- 
line here of the history of the Church, interesting as it 
would be. It is necessary only to state that the thought 
which is uppermost in my mind today is this: We could 
not do without the church, and without a church the 
whole world of sinful man were lost ! 

We have met today in a gathering of Christian love 
and fellowship, and of course we have enjoyed the occa- 
sion! We also enjoyed this fine, beautiful, ba’my, glori- 
ous spring day. We can have such gatherings as this 
whenever we choose, too, — and there are none to forbid 
us and make us afraid. In this day and time we may do 
as we please, and nobody can hinder us. For all practical 


6 


purposes, the common people have now the same priv- 
ileges that all people have. 

But once — not so long ago, in fact — it was not so. Civil 
and religious liberty was possible only after many cen- 
turies of toil and bloodshed. And when at last the vic- 
tory was won, it was won by men who were members of 
any — and all — of our Protestant churches. So ought we 
not to think a great deal of the Christian church of today 
— even if she does make some mistakes ? Perfection was 
never attained on earth, my hearers. 

The church, as we have it today, is a priceless heritage. 
And just think of what it has done for mankind! In a 
word, it has made the world what it is at this time, and 
proved itself a haven of refuge for all members of the 
human race — a refuge from the Powers of Darkness, and 
from final destruction. 

Now just think for a moment of what the church is! 
In a word, it is an organization of all that is best in hu- 
manity, an organization of righteous men and women 
seeking Divine guidance in their efforts to point out the 
way of life to all mankind ! 

That is what our church is, and are we not grateful 
that it is so, grateful for the part it has played in the 
progress of the world? 

Of course we are, only we are forgetful sometimes; 
that is all. 

A certain author made himself famous by writing the 
story of the man without a country. It is a great story, 
to be sure. But a much greater story remains yet to be 
written on the subject — “The Country Without a 
Church.” And when that story is written as it doubt- 
less will be some day, then we shall see the real littleness 
of “The Man Without a Country.’" 

I have sometimes tried to imagine what this fair land 
of ours would be without a church, but I can never bear 
long to al ow my mind to dwell on the thought. Soon I 
have to think in another direction, or I might, lose my 


7 


wits in the contemplation of the gloomy subject. 

Now I have not said very much on this interesting sub- 
ject, have not really done it justice, but what I have said 
I believe, and if I am spared long enough I intend to do 
my part in delivering the message of new thought, new 
ideas and glad tidings generally, to the world. I know 1 
may never be able to accomplish much, but I shall at least 
have the satisfaction of knowing that I tried to do what 
I could. 

And remember this, my hearer. The church is truly 
the connecting link between earth and heaven. 

WORLD PEACE DEPENDS ON WORLD’S PEOPLE. 

This article was written first for, and appeared in, the 
People’s Forum Department of the Williamsport, Pa., 
Grit.) 

To the Editor of The State : 

Although the Senate has refused to allow us to go into 
the League of Nations at all, since we could not do so 
either with or without reservations utterly incompatible 
with our greatness, physically, morally and spiritually, 
owing to a strange combination of circumstances — and 
to our lingering distrust of the good faith of other peo- 
ples ; — yet the League is a “going concern” and we. may 
one day regret our Senate’s lack of vision, not to call it 
partisan selfishness, in withho ding its consent to our 
taking the leadership of the wor d in peace, as we took 
it so proudly in the war. 

But the success of the League in maintaining world 
peace, whether or not we ever become a member of it, will 
depend upon the peoples of the nations composing it, in a 
manner which has perhaps not yet been considered. The 
League is all right, the ideals of the great men (or man?) 
who labored in its establishment are glorious; but there 
must be another revival of learning, to prepare future 
generations for life in the new age under the League, else 
there will be no new age and the League will finally die. 

“The world must be made safe for democracy,” said our 


8 


President when we entered the war ; now the head of the 
League should proclaim to all the world, “Democracy 
must be made safe for the world.” This can be done only 
by making education universal — and preserving the 
American ideal of democracy and free government. 
America is the hope of the world; and if she fails, civi- 
lization is doomed. 

There are also many harmful things being taught 
which must be discarded, if education is to reach the 
masses properly; for no people can ever be expected to 
be loyal to the best ideals when they are constantly being 
taught by brainy, but cynical and unbelieving, speakers 
and writers that most ideals are false! 

Germany taught kultur in the schoolroom, from the 
pulpit, in her literature, through the press — and came 
near conquering and imposing it upon the world. Why 
cannot Americanism and devotion, to true ideals, nation- 
alism and internationalism be propagated in the same 
way? 


NO RACE WAR IN PROSPECT. 

The race riots which occurred in Washington and Chi- 
cago recently are doubtless disquieting. But are such 
outbreaks between the races to be wondered at, in view 
of certain facts? 

The troubles in Washington, Chicago — and possibly 
other places by this time — are the effects of quite natural 
causes. And, just as there have been clashes between 
the two races before, and lynchings of negroes by white 
men, so we may expect similar occurrences for some time 
to come. For it is not strange that some of the negroes 
should dream of social and political equality, that they 
should consider themselves “just as good” as the whites, 
and that they should believe it possible and desirable for 
the African black and the Anglo-Saxon white to become 
equals ; because certain idealists, fired with a zeal nothing 
could have stopped, have taught many of the more im,- 


9 


pressionable negroes ideas of political and social equality 
which will not be forgotten. 

But let nobody be alarmed ; there will be no race war in 
America. Let us not for a moment imagine that the big 
number of property-owning negroes, the real rulers of 
the race, will ever become so dissatisfied as to make the 
sword the final arbiter; no race having the same intelli- 
gence as the American negro is likely to drop what it has 
to grab for the shadow of something he knows can never 
exist for him, Providence alone knows what troubles are 
in the immediate future for us ; but the “race war” which 
so many irresponsible persons nearly everywhere are talk- 
ing of will never come — unless the negroes either come to 
be oppressed more than they have yet been, or the more 
ambitious and radical of them become the real leaders of 
the race. — Grit. 

WHAT OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE? 

Labor’s right of organization is unversally recognized. 
Its right to demand higher wages, and even to strike if 
they be not forthcoming, is also recognized. Time was 
when labor had neither organization, union, nor protec- 
tion. But where is the liberal, right-thinking, justice- 
loving citizen who can, without apprehension, read: “The 
preliminary skirmish in the great industrial struggle 
which opened today between the labor unions and the 
United States Steel corporation, which directly or indi- 
rectly affects a half million wage earners, produced the 
usual conflicting claims by the generals on both sides.” 

Mayhap organized capital is guilty of all it has been 
charged w T ith ; and we know it were not good for capital 
to have all the organization, all the privilege, all the 
power. But that is what organized labor is demanding ! 

The average person desires only a just wage and oppor- 
tunity to work and live in peace. He knows what he has 
earned by honest labor is his — and he means to keep it, 
notwithstanding his present loyalty to “the union.” But 
let radicalism run its logical course, and the time will 


10 


come when there will be no wages, because wages are 
money and money is capital. No individual laborer will 
then have the right to live and work in peace, unless “the 
union” says so; nobody may then own even a change of 
clothes, unless “the union” be willing, because “the 
union” will be everything, the people, the state, the com- 
monwealth nothing. — Grit. 

ONE-LANGUAGE NATION ESSENTIAL. 

To the Editor of The State : 

I should like to repeat, in The State, and with additions, 
certain remarks of mine on a timely subject, which ap- 
peared in the Williamsport (Pa.) Grit of November 1G, 
1919. 

.Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, who headed the Senate La- 
bor committee on its trip of investigation through the 
coal strike regions last year, said: “We can not reach a 
one-language nation overnight, but that eventuality 
should be our goal. Eight and a half million people in 
this country over ten years of age can not speak, read 
or write the American language. To the correction of 
that condition every citizen should resolve to do his part.” 

Quite true. America must needs become a one-lan- 
guage nation, as she could do easily and quickly by simply 
making it unlawful, in every State, to teach any modern 
language, without also laying special emphasis upon the 
teaching of English, and then strengthen this plan to 
Americanize America by a nation-wide compulsory school 
attendance law. For the work of making loyal citizens of 
the foreign peoples who are constantly settling in our 
country, should not be intrusted altogether to the states 
individually; the national government should head the 
great movement. And the matter of competent teachers 
for our public schools ought to be given special attention ; 
for at present only the fewest number of those who 
“teach,” especially in the rural schools, have more than 
the mere rudiments of an education themselves. 

It would not be an abridgment of “States rights” for 


11 


Uncle Sam to begin to take special interest in the educa- 
tion, or Americanization, of his people — any more than it 
is for him to command them not to drink intoxicants. 
None but demagogues desire an ignorant, illiterate, in- 
temporate, prejudiced, passion-swayed electorate; and 
even they do not realize what their desire would mean, 
or might lead to if literally accomplished — else they would 
not strive for it. 

HOLD TO IDEAL OF OWNING A HOME. 

To the Editor of The State : 

Every man should hold on to the ideal of owning a 
home, even if he may never be able to do so. 

Now, these are the best times this country ever saw — 
though just how long the good times shall continue, of 
course we do not know. There is more work than work- 
ers ; wages are good, if the cost of living is unnecessarily 
high; money is plentiful — even in the homes of the 
humblest. 

It was not so, a dozen years ago. There always was a 
surplus of work to do and needing to be done; but the 
worker never before enjoyed the opportunity to have 
“what he wants” and lay by a competence besides, that 
he now enjoys. 

Yet, the desire of the average wage-earner to own his 
own home seems not so common as formerly. When 
everything was cheap and money scarce, people seemed to 
value labor and money according to the true worth of 
each, in its relation to the other. But organized labor’s 
demand now is for more, and even more, money — with, 
in most cases, a shorter work day. Workers are seldom 
advised, by their unions, to work faithfully, to save, to 
stand for law and order, to promote the moral uplift and 
material welfare of the state, to strive for individual home 
ownership. Neither socialism (which opposes private 
ownership of property) nor any other radical “ism” can 
ever flourish in America, if her people hold on to the good 
old idea of every man’s having his own home — as “every 


12 


man” can, if he will. America can not continue a free 
democracy unless the majority of her people shall always 
be home-owners. 

EXPECTING BOLT FROM CLEAR SKY. 

Cost of High Living Worrying Correspondent. 

To the Editor of The State : 

I believe I am not a pessimist, and I know that I am not 
a calamity howler. I believe we all should enjoy a good 
time when we have it, even at the risk, sometimes, of 
having to meet a bad time sooner than we may have an- 
ticipated its coming. That is my philosophy of life. 

But I am always thinking, and drawing conclusions 
from my thoughts. Some of these conclusions just will 
“stay put” in my mind, and so I naturally like to write 
out my ideas for the entertainment, instruction, or 
amusement of others, and especially for the readers of 
The State. 

I am afraid that a bolt may be due to us from a clear 
sky, just any day now. It will be almost sure to come, if 
the Repub!icans win in the coming presidential election. 
So we must elect Cox and Roosevelt, regardless of every- 
thing, and even at the risk of hurting the feelings of 
every Republican in the United States. 

To those who work for salaries, to farmers and truck 
growers whose lands are not overproductive, to those 
whose ability to earn money is limited, the cost of living 
is an evergrowing burden. And without relief from some 
quarter, they can not bear it much longer. Therein lies 
a solemn danger to the peace and order of our social 
system. 

But, to the mass of wage earners, the cost of living is 
a burden which they bear onJy too willingly. Once the 
wage earner, like most other people, had to be economical ; 
now he can buy whatever he desires, whether he needs 
it or not. For instance, nearly every home in this little 
mill village, where I live, contains .a new “latest style” 


IS 


phonograph. And so the wage earners have, unwittingly 
hut naturally, run the “high cost of living” into the “cost 
of high living.” Therein lies another danger to the con- 
tinued welfare of society. For, since the cost of high 
living is the real and on'y cause of the high cost of living, 
all who live so extravagantly now will think themselves 
very ill used when the time for economy does come. And 
that time is surely coming, it will be a mercy if it does not 
strike us with the deadly force and suddenness of a thun- 
der bolt. Therefore, we might be more prudent in the 
enjoyment of our good time, if we were more discreet in 
the spending of our cash. 

HELP MAKE CHRISTMAS REAL. 

“Christmas has come!” “Merry Christmas and Happy 
New Year!” 

Trite sayings ; yet there is something about Christmas 
which keeps it ever new, fresh and gladsome. An old 
colored woman, who “makes her living bending over the 
washtub,” expresses her “Chris’mus feelin’ ” thus : 

“Ah al’ays lacks fer Chris’mus ter come, ’cause hit 
al’ays has er sort er essence or flavor er th’ Lawd about 
hit, whut makes mah heart feel jes’ lack singin’ praises 
all th’ day long.” 

The world needs to praise the Giver of all good, this 
Christmas, as never before; although never was there a 
time when praising Him was not in order. Despite tlie 
many things for which, we think, we have neither right 
nor reason to be thankful, yet have to bear with ; still, let 
us not forget man is ever prone to look on the dark side, 
prone to forget he has a loving Father, who will at lasu- 
turn our deepest sorrow into joy unspeakable. 

Let us help God, in this wonderful work, by giving of 
our own hope, courage, good cheer, bright out'ook, with- 
out stint or limit. We have to join no “societies for the 
regulation of Christmas giving,” in order to spread the 
spirit of peace and good will. — Grit. 


14 


WHAT THE CHURCH DOES FOR A COUNTRY. 

We are a nation of churchgoers, yet the number who 
do not attend church is too big. Get out on a country 
road, or go up town, on a Sunday morning, and you will 
see a multitude going to church ; enter almost any church, 
and you wi-1 find it full — of the most pleasant people in 
the world. It is so with Sunday school attendance. 

But if everybody who could, would attend church, the 
number of church buildings would be more than twice 
as large as it is — and there would be much less need of 
sheriffs and policemen. Some do not attend church be- 
cause they imagine they are not desired ; others, because 
of indifference to religion; while many good citizens do 
not go because they think it is not necessary. And of 
the three classes, not one is the worst; their dereliction of 
duty comes to one result : it makes each generation more 
ungod'y than the one that preceded it. 

And yet nobody would want to live in a land which con- 
tained no churches ; and there cannot be universal peace 
and harmony until the church does reign supreme, at 
least in every Christian -and.— Grit. 

OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC. 

(TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : Read this page, and 
the following pages, carefully. They will interest you.) 

Lockmore Mill, York, S. C., 
April 12, 1920. 

Kind Friend, 

Your receiving a copy of my writings is an invitation 
for you to read the same carefully. Then, if you can, 
pease pay me for it — just whatever you think it is worth, 
unless you either find the price printed upon the booklet 
or already know what I am asking for it. 

• You are not requested particularly to return the book- 
let. If you cannot attend to the matter of noticing it 
yourself, could you not induce some one else to do so ? 

Besides buying the one I have sent to you, I should 


15 


like for you to show it to your friends; for maybe they 
would like to buy copies for themselves. I need all the 
help, in this way, that I may receive — and more. 

If you send for them, I shall be glad to send you as 
many copies as you may feel that you can sell. And for 
six dollars, collected for booklets sold or otherwise dis- 
posed of and sent to me by you, I will give you one year’s 
subscription to THE YOUTH’S COMPANION, if you de- 
sire it. Or else you may keep fifteen per cent, of pro- 
ceeds from the sales of my booklets, if you desire pay- 
ment for your labors in my behalf. I am willing — if 
scarcely able! — to pay for any and all service rendered 
me ; but as yet — and I have been engaged in this business 
for nearly twenty years — no one has ever charged me a 
cent for helping me to dispose of my writings. I make 
this statement, in this my latest booklet, in justice to 
many kindly friends, who have done what they could for 
me ; and out of gratitude to a general public which is be- 
coming more and more liberal with me as the years pass 
on. 

Nearly five thousand copies of my writings have been 
sold, to date, and the demand for my work now is grow- 
ing, practically as steadily and as surely as the years are 
coming and going. 

Still, I must ever be calling out : “Come ! Extend to me 
a helping hand ! Buy my writings, and so make my shut- 
in life a little easier !” 

Can you not help me, in this work ? Is there any reason 
why you should not do so? I ask nothing that is not in 
the power of practical’y any person to do for me, or to 
give. 


Your receiving a copy of my writings may, also, be an 
acknowledgment of your kindness in either writing me a 
letter, sending me a gift, or both. I receive hundreds— 
perhaps thousands — of cards, letters, and other things 
every year. And of course I cannot write personally to 


16 


each and every one of my correspondents. Hence my 
using my printed matter in lieu of personal letters. 

My gratitude for the many words of cheer alone which 
I have received is unspeakable; while if it had not been 
for the material assistance handed to me from time to 
time by generous, sympathetic admirers, I could never 
have accomplished anything. I make this statement un- 
biushingly, although I have sometimes had to submit to 
the unutterable humiliation of being regarded as a com- 
mon mendicant. 


I do not write poetry ; to be exact, I cannot. So please 
do not request me to write verse for private sale. So 
many admirers recently have written to me for some of 
my very own poetry that I am obliged to make this state- 
ment. Not every one who loves poetry, as I do, can 
write it. 

I have much necessary work on hands all the time, 
notwithstanding my semi-helplessness, and frequent in- 
terruptions from causes which I am powerless to prevent. 

SKETCHES OF MY DAILY LIFE AND WORK. 

FOR A PORTION— THE BEGINNING— of my Forty- 
Lesson Short-Story Writing course in The Home Corres- 
pondence School, of Springfield, Mass., I was required to 
write as follows : 

Answers to Questions: 

James Stanhope Love, Lockmore Mill, York, York Co,, 
S. C. 

Pseudonym, “Ben Hope,” the Shut-In Writer and 
Author. 

Student and Writer. (Also a deep thinker.) 

Unab’e to walk. Thirty-two (now thirty-three) years 
old. Of poor, uneducated, common, respectable parent- 
age. Was never farther than twenty-one miles from 
home. (Spent the afternoon of May 31st, 1919, at Pleas- 


17 


ant Ridge, a little cotton mill town in North Carolina. 
Went merely for the pleasure of the trip, with a man who 
was kind enough to offer me a ride in his Ford.) Never 
attended school a day; wholly self-educated. Studious, 
thoughtful, imaginative, ambitious, optimistic. 


I have read much and acquired some knowledge of all 
varieties of literature. I read regularly now The Youth’s 
Companion, The People’s Home Journal, Hearth and 
Home, Comfort, Everyday Life, McCall’s Magazine, The 
American Woman, The Writer’s Monthly, The Pathfind- 
er, Grit (and the Grit “story section”), one daily news- 
paper, and The Yorkville Enquirer. Also stories — I am 
a lover of fiction — in other papers from time to time, and 
newspaper sketches and poetry. 

I have sold two anecdotes to Youth’s Companion, also 
two short department-page articles to the same. One of 
the latter has not yet been published, as it is merely the 
“story” of my personal experience with the Companion. 
Unfortunately, perhaps, I did not keep a copy of this ar- 
ticle, which was written in October, 1915. Have also 
written and sold two editorial articles to the Columbia 
State ; and occasionally now I write 200- word articles for 
The People’s Forum department of Grit, most of which 
are accepted, printed without change, and paid for. I 
used to write much for local newspapers as a country cor- 
respondent, and quite often now I write for the daily 
papers of this State on political, social and economic 
questions. 

Have written and submitted several articles, sketches, 
short-stories, etc., to Youth’s Companion, Everybody’s, 
American Magazine, Munsey’s, the Cosmos Magazine, Mc- 
Call’s, et al. ; but never sold any of my long pieces of 
writing. (I have since destroyed most of my early writ- 
ings, having preserved only a few of those considered 
worthy of preservation. I have also published four small 
volumes of essays, stories, anecdotes, and sketches — also. 


is 


two leaflets — concerning my own life and experiences, 
travels, etc. I would not now think of offering any of 
these writings to the magazines, though the sale of my 
booklets has been fairly good, and I have been told, by 
several persons of education and excellent literary taste, 
that my printed writings bear some merit.) And I have 
submitted a few “news stories” to a certain daily news- 
paper, offering my services as regular news writer; but 
without success. (I have also written photoplays, but 
have not yet tried to sell any of these. I think I have 
mastered the technique of photoplay construction.) 

I believe I have it in me to write short-stories, and am 
convinced that this Course will instruct me how to write 
salable fiction — if I am capable of learning this very diffi- 
cult art. I believe I can be taught, though I have never 
had any experience with teachers. While I need very 
much to increase my earning capacity, still it is not the 
hope alone of earning money, which urges me to per- 
severe at this self-imposed task. A love of literature and 
of writing inspires me with a determination to succeed 
which no discouragement — and I have been discouraged 
often — has ever been able to destroy. 

I have or can make the leisure necessary for the suc- 
cess of this work. I feel that I would write, if I could, if 
I were rich and not under the necessity of writing for a 
living. 


I have a very good assortment of textbooks on spelling, 
grammar, composition, reading, arithmetic; dictionaries, 
writing “helps,” on anthology, encyclopedias, a treatise on 
photoplay writing, note-and scrapbooks, a file of old pa- 
pers and magazines which contain many excellent short- 
stories and other matter, a miscellaneous assortment of 
novels, a few historical, biographical, geographical, and 
poetical works. Have also digested the contents of many 
books which I do not own, including a manual on writing 
for the press, and several of Shakespeare’s plays. Have 


19 


not studied any language except English, Enow nothing 
of higher mathematics, am a fairly good arithmetician. 
Have ready access to no library proper ; can, as I often do, 
borrow the books which I think I need from friends. They 
are glad to assist me in this way. I also have several ex- 
cellent little volumes on travel, in Ameria and other 
lands. Recently I read a new, strange, wonderfully in- 
spiring book, “What Ails the World,” by the Rev J. E. 
Mahaffey, of York, S. C. This book is a description of 
what really does ail the world, at this strange time; and 
was brought to the author from the unseen world by 
three invisible beings who became visible to him as three 
of the six Sons (or days) of Time. The book satisfies — 
and I think I see in it ideas for several short stories, per- 
haps of unusual character and power. (Later: A doubt- 
ful statement!) Mahaffey’s book is quite original. 

(Enclosed with this first lesson report, you — the teach- 
er — will find specimens of my writings. I believe that I 
have learned to do this sort of work very easily and well. 
That is, write common letters for the press on topics of 
current interest.) 


My Dear Teacher, 

I thank you much for your kind letter, of October 29 . 
T shall keep it among my Lesson papers and read it re- 
peatedly as I review my Lesson writings — which I shall 
do frequently. I find this course quite fascinating, and 
my interest increases with each day’s study. I am cer- 
tain that you and I will “get along together” most beau- 
tifully ; for I have at last found work adapted to my needs 
— and, I believe now, to my ability. 

I am making a faithful, thorough study of the first 
Lessons, and in connection therewith I am also review- 
ing most of my old studies of years ago. I have a vast 
amount of writings — stories, sketches, ancedotes, etc. — 
done when I was younger— and, perhaps, more hopeful! 
— which I think I won’t even look at until I shall have 


20 


finished this course. (NOTE. — This seems to contradict 
assertion made in Lesson 1 assignment, — as to writings 
destroyed, etc., — page 2, line 3 ; but in reality it does not. 
The seeming contradiction arises from the fact that I 
have destroyed so much more of my writings than I have 
preserved. And in speaking about my life and work, I 
often appear to make contradictory statements: a habit 
which I will try to overcome. At least, I shall try not to 
‘'repeat the offense” in these Lesson writings.) I learn- 
ed to write grammatical English first by committing to 
memory words, words and phrases, words and their defi- 
nitions, sentences, and quotations from the great masters 
of expression; then, retracing my steps, I memorized all 
the rules of grammar, punctuation, and use of capitals; 
and so now I am learning how to write in the style best 
adapted to my own temperament and mode of thinking. 

I am pleased to know that Lesson 1 was all right. 1 
fear now that I was in rather too much haste with Lesson 
1, and lesson 2 was mailed on the day I received your 
reply to the former. In preparing the latter, I worked 
particularly with a view to digesting the sense of the Les- 
son readings; and while I may not have made it plain — 
I await your reply with some trepidation-— whether or not 
I have gotten a comprehensive grasp of the purpose of 
Lesson 2, yet I feel the satisfaction of knowing that i 
did the best I could do at the time of writing. 


As I write to-day, I am very sad. A deep feeling of 
gloom oppresses my soul, and it is with difficulty that I 
can go on with my writing. 


I have read many books. I cannot now, however, recall 
any particular “book which has especially set” me to 
thinking; because I have for so long had the habit of 
thinking seriously and deeply, on all sorts of questions, 
that thinking is now almost second nature with me. Used 


21 


to read with keen enjoyment a page in The Sunny South 
(a weekly literary publication now out of print), edited 
by Mrs. Mary E. Bryan. Mrs. Bryan is, I believe, an 
author and critic of note, and the page she managed for 
The Sunny South was composed of unsolicited contribu- 
tions from writers of all kinds and descriptions. I con- 
tributed to “our favorite page” myself sometimes. I be- 
lieve that reading all those fine pieces of literature, in 
Mrs. Bryan's page, did much to inspire me with a love of 
literature and a desire to write. Have always believed 
that much of the best writing is found in publications 
which, like the old Sunny South, do not buy their “stuff” 
from professional writers, but make it a rule to print a 1 
unsolicited contributions of merit they receive from their 
readers. Years ago I edited a department, similar to Mrs. 
Bryan’s in The Sunny South, for a local newspaper, and 
among the many contributions I received for publication 
were a few of uncommon merit, by writers who seemed 
not to consider themselves writers at all. But my “de- 
partment” failed, and I know now that I made many mis- 
takes while trying to manage it. I blush yet whenever 
I think of some of the things which I wrote for it and 
wonder what the editor of the paper was thinking about, 
sometimes, that he didn’t blue-pencil my copy more free- 
ly than he ever did ! (Teacher’s comment on this section 
of my lesson report, entire lesson being graded “99,” “I 
find this interesting.”) 


I used to read Tom Watson’s editorial writings, book 
reviews, historical, biographic and literary sketches with 
profound pleasure. I consider Watson the deepest think- 
er, the most discriminative critic of books, living. While 
his faults, as a politician, may be legion; yet I cannot 
but agree with most of his literary criticisms. I believe 
sincerely that reading his writings did more to inspire me 
with a desire to become a great writer than any other 
course of reading I ever pursued. 


22 


I always did like an argument; and when I meet one 
who is able, intellectually, to cope with me — as, the truth 
constrains me to say! I seldom do — I am rejoiced. (Here 
I omit a portion of the original lesson paper.) I am not, 
however, unreasonable and egotistic, and I never set out 
in search of arguments. In fact, as I become older I 
become also less argumentatively inclined. I believe that 
I do not like for one to agree with everything J say. 


I believe that books stimulate me most. Have always 
been a lover and student of nature. Love solitude, with 
books and my own thoughts for companions. Discus- 
sion was never especially stimulating to me. I seem to 
detect the weak points in the arguments of others rather 
too readily. (Teacher’s comment: “I find this interest- 
ing” “Good.”) 


Do not have opportunity often now to indulge my love 
of solitude. Am popular with my neighbors, so they 
— Here I again omit something which it is really not 

necessary to say I believe that the optimism of 

my nature is something that all the adversities of my life 
can never destroy. 


I think and write quite clearly. At first I could not do 
this, not because I just couldn’t, but because I never 
could be sure about punctuation, capital letters, etc. Now 
J am a rapid writer, only occasionally having to consult 
my dictionary. Noise of persons talking, any unusual 
fuss and bother in my room .... operate against my best, 
clearest consecutive thinking. 

I believe that I know the difference between a story 
and the materials which go into the making of one, how 
a story should be written and when it is well-constructed. 
But in these lessons, I submit myself entirely to you (the 


23 


teacher) and will follow your instructions to the best of 
my ability. I shall endeavor faithfully to not become set 
in any preconceived ideas of my own. 


I may with propriety, I feel, supplement my first Les- 
son report with a detailed account of my early readings, 
writings, studies, literary tastes, etc.: 

The first book I remember reading was, — as my old- 
fashioned aunt who gave it to me said, —a short-story 
“with a good moral for little folks.” It was “a story for 
children and young people,” written in the good, but 
somewhat solemn, old-fashioned style, — the style which 
was always strictly grammatical and free from slang. 
Strangely enough, perhaps, I remember neither the au- 
thor nor the title of that little book. Then I began to read 
a few larger— but not more serious — books, called “libr- 
ary books” by those who gave them to me. These books 
were all of a grave, religious character, and were written 
in that solemn, ponderous style in which books are no 
longer written. And of course they were clean, whole- 
some, elevating, and inspiring. The old books with which 
I formed an early acquaintance contained no nasty 
realism. Artists’ models, dancers, depraved men, aban- 
doned women, and tragedies of the world, etc., were never 
mentioned in the books and papers and magazines which 
I read in my childhood days. I was early taught to avoid 
atheistic literature, — and commanded not to read books 
on hypnotism. And I can not forget all of my early teach- 
ings, although of course I have by this time read and di- 
gested nearly everything I could get. I wonder some- 
times at my ability to digest. 

My first writing was for a local newspaper, whose 
policy was to print all good contributions from its read- 
ers. Few newspapers make it a rule to do this nowadays. 
Newspapers now, I believe, are more “dignified” and con- 
ventional; and so the “country scribe” is seen in print no 
more — except, mayhap, as a “reporter” of “dry as dust” 


24 


news items “of interest” which scarcely anybody ever 
reads, notwithstanding the great number and enormous 
circulation of newspapers weekly, semi-weekly, tri-weeklv 
and daily. I really cannot understand why newspapers 
— and other publications as well — persist in printing so 
much stuff that the reading public cares nothing about. 


“Tom Watson,” the author who did most to arouse my 
ambition to also become a great writer, is a most virile 
writer and severe — but just — critic. He is bold, free and 
unconventional, — an intensely fascinating writer. But I 
know now — what I did not realize at first — that he used 
to be often unnecessarily harsh in his criticisms of other 
writers and writings. He was actually quite savage. The 
young writer would, therefore, do well to avoid imitating 
such writers — I did it, though — as Watson; although of 
course I think it good for any one to read at least some of 
Watson's best works. 

Will N. Harben, Thomas Dixon, Jr., Harold Bell 
Wright, Augusta J. Evans-Wilson are some of my fa- 
vorite novelists. Harben’s love stories (in his novels) 
are, to me, extremely true to life. Mrs. Wilson's “St. 
Elmo” is a powerful story, but overdrawn, I feel. Wright 
is very pleasing ; Dixon seems quite original. Longfellow 
and Tennyson are two of my favorite poets ; Shakespeare 
is my favorite dramatist, — though I have not read all of 
his works. Lamb's “Tales” is a very beautiful book, to 
me. Dickens's “David Copperfield” appealed to me won- 
derfully, in a rather sentimental way, when I read it years 
ago. “A Tale of Two Cities” appealed to me much more 
forcibly when I read it, several years later. But of all 
short-story writers, Hawthorne is my favorite, among the 
classic authors. And of all the many excellent story- 
tellers who contributed to The Youth's Companion, C. A. 
Stephens has been my favorite from the first. He is al- 
ways, to me, fresh, original, interesting and fascinating. 
I believe that The Youth's Companion has done more to 


25 


form my literary taste and inspire in me a love for clean 
literature than any other paper or magazine I ever read 
— or studied. For I have certainly studied The Youth’s 
Companion. 

When a child, just entering my teens, I spent much 
time at an uncle’s, in whose dining-room was an old book' 
case, full of old books of all kinds and on all sorts of what 
seemed outlandish subjects. This old bookcase, with its 
musty, dusty contents, was a source of constant pleasure 
to me, although I could read little (and understand less) 
of most of the volumes. 


I never tried to write poetry, though I believe I know 
real poetry when I see it. I have often thought that some 
of the best poetry written appears only in the newspa- 
pers, and therefore soon becomes lost. 

I think also that many well-known newspaper report- 
ers and short-story writers would do well to improve their 
style of writing (if they can!). I may be somewhat of 
a purist, and therefore wrong in this opinion; but still 
I often find stories which seem badly constructed ; and in 
many newspapers, the errors in spelling, grammar, and 
punctuation are simply legion. Not many writers seem 
to make a success of writing dialect, either ; and even the 
best writers often “put the cart before the horse,” in 
their stories. (The foregoing was written hurriedly, with 
little attempt to study what was to be written and mere- 
ly a few corrections afterward. And once more I may 
say, I think, and with propriety, that I desire sincerely to 
learn to write the short-story; to be and to express my 
own natural self in my writings, and to always be as 
fresh and original as possible.) 


26 


FIGHT TO BE WAGED IF DEMOCRATS WIN. 

Ben Hope Says Action Must Be Taken in Every State in 
Union. 

To the Editor of The State: 

We are all good Democrats, here in the South. We love 
our party, are devoted to its principles. We “point with 
pride” to the greatest living Democrat, Woodrow Wilson, 
our party’s illustrious leader, and what he has done for 
America and for the world, since he became our presi- 
dent, nearly eight years ago. We “view with alarm” 
what might be the consequences of the Republican party’s 
winning out, in this year’s presidential election. 

We know the country has been generally prosperous, 
under Wilson’s democratic administration. We know 
Wilson stands always for the things that are great, good, 
noble and true — that he is, really, “the poor man’s 
friend.” And we are aware that the platform, or pro- 
gram of what the Democrats propose to continue trying 
to do, if they shall be allowed to retain control of our 
great country, upon which Governor Cox of Ohio is run- 
ning for president, is approved by Mr. Wilson, although 
he did not personally dictate either the writing of that 
platform or the nomination, in the Democratic conven- 
tion, of Mr. Cox. And we also know that both Mr. Cox 
and his running mate, Mr. Roosevelt, are excellent men 
and worthy of the honor which has been conferred upon 
them. 

A careful reading of the Democratic platform convinces 
every one, except a hidebound Republican, that it is the 
embodiment of principles and policies, the application and 
use of which will more safely promote the best interests 
cf every class of American citizenship; while there sim- 
ply is nothing to the Republican platform that may be 
construed to mean anything except a repudiation of all 
that the Democrats have been trying to do under Wilson’s 
leadership for America, for the world, and for the great 
Christian principle of human brotherhood. The Repub- 


27 


lican convention in which that party's platform was pre- 
pared and nominations for the presidency made, was little 
more than a common indignation meeting against Presi- 
dent Wilson and the Democratic party. 

We believe that it is possible for the world to get a'ong 
very well without such wars as the recent world conflict ; 
therefore, we want to see the league of nations carried 
on to a glorious success, and we want America to be- 
come a member of this league before she shall have for- 
ever “lost face” in the sight of God and all the universe. 
We have no patience with the cranks who prate about 
entangling alliances and other bugaboos with which 
haters of the cause of world peace delight to amuse them- 
selves. Senator Lodge’s “keynote” speech at the Repub- 
lican convention was a masterpiece of spite, hatred, 
venom and disappointment. And all because Wilson’s 
ideals are not his ideals, because the world was not saved 
from German autocracy by a Republican administration 
and president (possibly himself), and because he was not 
made a delegate to the great peace conference over in 
France, in which President Wilson made such a mighty 
impression. 

We are satisfied of the correctness of all that is written 
above, and much more; but it will take more than just 
“campaign dollars,” which the state is raising, to assure 
the election of Cox and Roosevelt next November. The 
fight of Democracy versus Republicanism will have to be 
carried into practically every county of every state in the 
union. And if means to do this can be found, Cox and 
Roosevelt will sure be elected because the Republicans do 
not seem to think it will be necessary for their nominees, 
Harding and Coolidge, to appear before the voters per- 
sonally in order to win, and overconfidence often proves 
disastrous to the party which indulges it. 

Let us all do what we can for the success of the Demo- 
cratic party this summer and fall. 








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